Small wounds to a mare's vulva are very common, especially during foaling. In fact, most mares have some degree of swelling and bruising of the vulva after delivery. Even small vulvar wounds often swell severely and look terrible in the early stages after wounding. This is because of the very loose, stretchy tissue and ample blood supply in this area. Once the swelling subsides, most of these injuries heal fast and cause minimal to no long-term problems.

Breeding injuries also rarely occur, and kick wounds are also relatively common in this area. Again, most of these heal well on their own.

Severe and disfiguring injuries to the vulva and vagina can also occur during foaling and can have serious long-term consequences to fertility and health. Major disfiguring wounds to the vagina (especially those where the tissue between vagina and rectum is torn) usually occur during foaling. A foal's foot pushes through the vaginal wall and rectal wall into the rectum (creating a recto-vaginal fistula). As the foal is pushed out, it may split the dividing tissue as it goes, resulting in one common opening for rectum and vagina. Very rarely, severe foaling and breeding wounds penetrate the abdominal cavity, leading to life-threatening infection.